Wool top dye system



Ahg. s, 1969 L. u. RENAUD ET AL. 3,459,012

WOOL TOP DYE SYSTEM Filed July 6, 1964 Qua-o aoc ace:

INVENTORS BY RENE G. GAUTHlER Fl (3. I

. ATTORNEY LIONEL U. RENAUD United States Patent 3,459,012 WOOL TOP DYE SYSTEM Lionel U. Renaud and Rene G. Gauthier, Woonsocket,

R.I., assignors to Dye House Products, Inc., Woonsocket, R.I., a corporation of Rhode Island Filed July 6, 1964, Ser. No. 380,268

Int. Cl. D06f 17/02 US. Cl. 68--187 1 Claim The present invention relates to improvements in wool top dye systems.

Heretofore in wool top dye systems the wool tops were first pulled and then engaged over spindles mounted in deep tanks, at least high enough to completely immerse the tops during dyeing. The tops on a single spindle were individually clamped down. In some instances a gang of spindles were clamped down to apply pressure to the tops to minimize shifting.

Rags were wrapped around the tops and tied. Then the volume of hot liquid colorant was circulated through the spindles of the system with the tops submerged.

High water and steam costs are disadvantageous and it is desired that these costs be reduced. Also the cost of rags and the labor involved in tying them and replacing them was excessive. Still further the problem of pulling tops are numerous and objectionable.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved Wool top dye system which overcomes the problems and objections of prior systems as outlined above.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved wool top dye system wherein the volume of water and steam utilized in effecting dyeing is substantially reduced.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved wool top dye system wherein the use of rags is eliminated and a novel jacket substituted which has long reusable life, and which supports the tops in a superior fashion.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved wool top dye system wherein tops can be loaded and removed with minimum handling and labor.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description to follow.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a generally schematic elevational view showing the improved system;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the plane of line 2--2 in FIGURE 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings wherein like numerals apply to like parts throughout, it will be seen that we have provided an improved wool top dye system which comprises a vat 12, circulating means 14, steam supply means 16, colorant supply means 18, spindle means 20, jackets 22 and weight assembly 24.

The vat 12 is a shallow metallic pan having a flat bottom 26, inclined sides 28 and an upper edge 30 supported at floor level L.

The circulating means 14 is of conventional design including a pump 32 for recirculating liquid colorant received from the return pipe 34 through the supply pipes 36, 38, the number of which corresponds to the number of spindles.

The steam supply means 16 ties in with the steam supply (not shown) of the plant and is controlled by valve 40 to raise the liquid colorant temperature in the vat 12.

The colorant supply 18, also is conventional, being merely a small cylindrical can 42 into which the various chemicals can be received and mixed and from which they can be dumped through outlet 44 into the vat.

The number of spindles can vary according to vat size. Two spindles are shown. A detailed description of the spindle construction and use is included in copending application S.N. 380,555, filed July 6, 1964, for Spindle for W001 Vat -Dye Systems, which is incorporated herein by reference. Suffice it to say the spindles are connected on the supply pipe ends at 46 by bayonet type connections for quick connection and release. The spindles are perforated and distribute the liquid colorant out through their perfora'tions throughout their length.

The wool tops T are engaged, without pulling, over the low-diameter spindles; sometimes as many as six are put on each spindle with each top weighing pounds.

Next, a cover 48 of variable size is placed over the spindle and on the uppermost top. A suitable cover is as shown in our copending application S.N. 380,463, filed July 6, 1964, and now abandoned, for W001 Top Cover for Dyeing. The cover is adjusted to the size diameter of the tops T.

Next the jackets are placed in position encircling the tops. The jackets 22 are simply metal shells, perforated, and formed to overlapping cylindrical shape. The jackets rest on the support plates 50 at floor level. The lines 52, 54, 56 encircle the jackets and are drawn tight by hand through the use of the friction clamps 58.

To compress the tops, we provide the cylindrical weights 60, 62 which have central sleeves 64, 66. The latter are engageable over the spindles to cut off flow above the tops T.

The weights 60, 62 are supported by rods 68, 70 on the cross bar 72 which is vertically slidably guided on the shafts 74, 76. The cross bar 72 is raised and lowered by any conventional chain hoist CH or the like.

By electrical control of the chain hoist, the weights can be lowered onto the covers 48 and will compress the tops.

After dyeing is complete the weights 60, 62 are lifted, the covers 48 removed, the jackets 22 removed, the spindies 20 disengaged. Then a fork lift truck or the like can be used to lift and transport all the tops to a drying station.

From the above it will be seen that a fraction of the water heretofore required is utilized and therefore steam consumption for heating the water is materially reduced. The costs of rags and the labor used in their connection are avoided by the use of the stainless steel jackets 22.

Thus, it is believed that the objects hereinabove enumerated have been fulfilled.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics, thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claim rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claim or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embraced by this claim.

We claim:

1. A wool top dye system comprising a vat adapted to hold a limited supply of hot liquid colorant, at least one spindle vertically supported in said vat, said vat being located below floor level and having its upper edge flush with floor level, means connecting the vat to a pump and the pump to each spindle for circulating liquid colorant, each spindle being of tubular, perforated construction and adapted to receive a plurality of wool tops thereon, means supporting the wool tops over the plane of floor level, a jacket shell comprising a thin sheet of perforated metal, preformed to generally cylindrical shape with overlapping longitudinal edge portions, means encircling said shell and operable to compress the shell about wool tops received therein, cover means receivable within said shell, about said spindle and over the wool tops to limit the flow of liquid colorant above the wool tops, said spindle being detachably connected in said vat so as to be removable upon completion of dyeing whereby the dyed 3 4 W001 tops can be removed at floor level, imperforate tubu- 1,374,628 4/1921 Ashworth 68 -1 89 lar means engageable over said spindle above the Wool 1,429,525 9/ 1922 Olden 6862 tops to enclose the spindle perforations therein, and 2,152,620 3/1939 Morton 68-189 X means applying pressure to the wool tops through said Coven FOREIGN PATENTS References Cited 5 675,158 10/1929 France. UNITED STATES PATENTS 63444 4/1955 France- 329,483 11/1885 Pfaff 68187 WILLIAM 1. PRICE, Primary Examiner 676,151 6/1901 Plantrou 68186 780,398 1/1905 Willard 68-487 10 US. Cl. X.R.

1,357,118 10/1920 Rowe 68-175 68-489 

1. A WOOL TOP DYE SYSTEM COMPRISING A VET ADAPTED TO HOLD A LIMITED SUPPLY OF HOT LIQUID COLORANT, AT LEAST ONE SPINDLE VERTICALLY SUPPORTED IN SAID VAT, SAID VAT BEING LOCATED BELOW FLOOR LEVEL AND HAVING ITS UPPER EDGE FLUSH WITH FLOOR LEVEL, MEANS CONNECTING THE VAT TO A PUMP AND THE PUMP TO EACH SPINDLE FOR CIRCULATINGG LIQUID COLORANT, EACH SPINDLE BEING OF TUBULAR, PERFORATED CONSTRUCTION AND ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A PLURALITY OF WOOL TOPS THEREON, MEANS SUPPORTING THE WOOL TOPS OVER THE PLANE OF FLOOR LEVEL, A JACKET SHELL COMPRISING A THIN SHEET OF PERFORATED METAL, PREFORMED TO GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL SHAPE WITH OVERLAPPING LONGITUDINAL EDGE PORTIONS, MEANS ENCIRCLING SAID SHELL AND OPERABLE TO COMPRESS THE SHELL ABOUT WOOL TOPS RECEIVED THEREIN, COVER MEANS RECEIVABLE WITHIN SAID SHELL, 